By: Felix Ikpotor
Igbos resident in Rivers State under the umbrella of Igbo Community has endorsed the governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Senator Magnus Ngei Abe for governorship in the forthcoming elections.
The endorsement was made at an event at Abe’s campaign office in Port Harcourt.
According to a statement by the chairman Board of Trustees, Eze Stanhope Ogadinma Okeorji and Secretary
Mazi Ikechukwu Edward Osisiogu, they did a profiling of all candidates and reached an agreement that Abe is the best among all the contestants.
“Before this programme today, we have done some wide consultations with Igbo stakeholders and Igbo leaders including, South East States Associations, Town Unions, Market Leaders, Igbo Women Forum and Igbo Student Unions, and we came to a conclusion that Chief Senator Magnus Ngei Abe is the best chosen among others and that’s why we are here for this endorsement”
” It is the very first time Ndigbo are coming together to endorse a candidate and it goes a long way to show the level of acceptability of the candidacy of Chief Senator Magnus Ngei Abe,” they said.
On why they settled for the SDP candidate, the Igbo Community said, “for good and bright ideas to make Rivers State an investor’s heaven, Chief Senator Magnus Ngei Abe stunned us with hiis great plans for Rivers State and you can see his sincerity and optimism that this dream is achievable as it is not a rocket science, these ideas worked in cities and countries where it was deployed as a proven formulae.
“For industrial parks, international standard markets and shopping malls, Distinguished Senator Magnus Ngei Abe said that it is a necessity for Rivers State to grow economically, that government will create enabling environment for businesses to thrive and facilities built to make business people more comfortable in their business environment.”
The Igbo community also noted that Abe is an Ogoni politician and deserves to be the next Governor of Rivers State for equity, fairness and Justice, as no Ogoni son has been governor, deputy governor or even speaker of the House of Assembly.
Responding, Senator Abe assured them that everyone living and doing business in the state shall have equal opportunity in his government.
He expressed appreciation with the Igbos for supporting him.
“Everybody who understands politics in Rivers State understands that the Igbos are a significant bloc in this state. And anybody with the support of the Igbos is already a front-runner. And because of that, every political group focuses attention on the Igbos and so the Igbos have never come together to endorse only one candidate.
“This is the first time in the history of politics in this state that the Igbo people, Ndi-Igbo in Rivers State have come together across party lines, across every divide to endorse one candidate for the governorship of Rivers State and I’m the beneficiary of that grace. I did not campaign for it. I did not lobby for it. I have not spent a penny,” he said.
Abe added: “Let me assure you, I know and I have said it several times and I think everybody is beginning to believe it now, even with what we are seeing today, that on the 29 of May this year I will be sworn-in as the governor and I promise you I have neither silver nor gold, but I will uphold the oath of the office of the Governor. Everybody in this state will be treated fairly and justly.
“Everybody, regardless of where you come from and who you are, everybody in this state that is ready to work hard and prosper will be given an opportunity in which hard work will yield prosperity”.
